The date is now confirmed as February 6-7. While the exact location has not been determined, it will be in the South Bay/Hermosa Beach area.

Also I am delighted to confirm that we will have Kenny Johnson joining us as a guest instructor. I know Kenny via Rigan Machado. KJ is a world class MMA Wrestling coach. For example, he was the MMA Wrestling Coach on Team Noguiera on TUF. He coaches Anderson Silva, BJ Penn, Lyoto Machida and others of that ilk.

We got to know each other when I asked him for a lesson to help me with certain wrestling based questions I had (re "the Rico" and my lousy underhooks) He was very intrigued by what I was doing and we began light sparring and exchanging knowledge. This has continued. A month or two ago he came by my Monday Kali Tudo class and we taught together.

It was very interesting to have Mr. Johnson add to the class. He has a wealth on knowledge when it comes to wrestling and he still had an open mind to the new angles KT can bring. Looking forward to the camp.

As some of you may have noticed, I enjoy naming things in a way I findhumorous. For example, in our "Kali Tudo" (tm) subsystem a particularmovement is named "The Dracula" (see our first KT DVD for an intro to thismaterial).

In this regard, this past weekend I named a particular Dracula-basedcombination as "Dracula brings the stake, hammer, and cross." The stake is aparticular uppercut (often done as a bolo punch) followed by a hammerfistand a cross. Rhythmically it is a triplet and it is devastatingly effective-- as thesaying goes "No brag, just fact." In training you must be careful not to rockor knock your partner out!

Punning horrifically, using the homonym "steak" for "stake" I start riffingabout wanting your steak well done, medium, rare, or bloody , , , andhumorously someone asked how Dracula could use a cross. I explained thatmany years ago there was a movie called "The Fearless Vampire Slayers" byRoman Polanski (yes the one who hides in Europe from US rape chargesconcerning drugging a 13 year old girl) which starred Sharon Tate (who waslater murdered by the Manson family). Anyway, there is a scene where avampire bursts through Sharon Tate's window and she, bosom bursting out ofher nightie, whips out a cross and holds it towards the vampire to repel himand the vampire responds in a heavy Yiddish accent "Ach! Haff you gott zewrong vampire!"... As Dracula I can bring the cross, unaffected by it,precisely because I am Jewish." Then, in an example of the strange,deranged erudition that runs through the DBMA tribe someone brought thefollowing to my attention:http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Shokel/011025_Vampires.html#fn0 Riffedsomeone else "Why did Dracula cross to the head? Because he already threwthe stake and hammer."

But, as I so often do, I digress , , ,

Anyway, the larger point here is that it is a matter of deep fascination tome to see the formulas of the Art begin to reveal themselves to me. Sinceits inception in our "Kali Tudo" (tm) DVD, the Dracula Game has continued togrow and to deepen into one of the most important and formidable gameswithin Kali Tudo; but as fun as it can be to blow someone's mind in MMAsparring, the deeper point as I see it is in the reification of the promiseof the Art to have "consistency across categories"-- that our movements arethe same whether we know if the opponent/enemy has a weapon or not.

In the real world there often will not be time to discern whether a furtivemovement is the load of a punch or the access of a weapon and select eithera response for an empty handed attack or a weapon attack. Thus we seek"consistency across categories" i.e. our movements are essentially the sameregardless of the fight in which we find ourselves. In "the interface ofgun, knife, empty hand" (a "Die Less Often" fight in DBMA parlance) it isof profound help not to need to know whether the opponent/enemy has a weaponin his hand in order to select the correct response. Our movement is thesame and the quicker for not having to make that determination. In thesplit-second realities of DLO situations, this is vital! Furthermore notonly does the Dracula work really well in MMA, it is also a fundamentalclose-quarter DLO technique, including for IFWA (In Fight Weapon Access).

In this regard I would like to mention that this winter's DBMA Training Campapproaches soon-- February 6-7 to be precise at the Boxing Works Gym inHermosa Beach (Los Angeles) CA.

This winter's camp will include the Dracula Game and more-- including guestinstructor Kenny Johnson, whom I via Rigan Machado. Kenny is a world classMMA Wrestling coach. For example, he was the MMA Wrestling Coach on TeamNoguiera on Spike TV's "The Ultimate Fighter". He coaches Anderson Silva, BJ Penn,and others of that ilk.

We got to know each other when I asked him for a lesson to help mewith certain wrestling based questions I had (re "the Rico" and also mylousy underhooks) He was intrigued by what I was doing and we began lightsparring and exchanging knowledge. This has continued. A month or two agohe came by my Monday "Kali Tudo" class. We taught together and the rapportwas really good. I think people will really enjoy this camp with the two ofus working together.

We know that with a camp that you must travel to us, so as we always do inDBMA, we are keeping our cost to you down. The cost of the camp will be$200. The LEO discount will be 15%. For active duty service personnel thediscount will be 25% and veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan the discount willbe 50%. Anyone with combat citations, the camp will be free.

"Hi Marc. I was curious as to what demographic you are looking for to attend this camp. Will this be a more beginner-intermediate class for those with some to moderate martial arts experience or is it geared more for those with substantial experience? Thanks for any information."

"If past experience is any guide, we will be a varied group. There will be some young studs, there will be some middle-aged farts looking for some crafty outside of the box stuff to use on the young studs back at home, and there will be some martial arts types looking for "portals into the magical dimension where martial arts and crafts actually work" (c DBI)"

Boxing Works at 307 Pacific Coast Highway looks a bit shabby on the outside but with Crafty Dog training it will be the friggin coolest gym you even been to in your life (OK... besides RyanG.'s gym in State College, PA cause he has a special "women's only exercise/workout room"... BTW, I REALLY want to know what goes on in that room. REALLY.)

Ahhh... a Holiday Inn Express just down the street at 125 Pacific Coast Highway. How Conveeeeeeeenient.This place looks sorta OK but Crafty Dog and the training camp won't be there so who cares.

Cindy is in full Christmas frenzy right now. Not to worry, there are plenty of agreeable options-- the gym is in walking distance to the beach-- and Cindy will let you know of your options post Christmas frenzy.

Hi Guro Marc,I've cross referenced my schedule and my days off coincide with the camp dates!My wife is on to me and has given the old hand on hip look of consternation and disgust.See what I can do to get there.Respect,Gord Walker

Anyway, concerning the large discounts for US military, the issue of satisfactory proof has arisen. Apparently the paperwork which would contain proof of combat (a 100% discount) also contains info which is not for general dissemination. Therefore our point man on this is Kaju Dog, a veteran of much action in OIF himself. Just get in touch with us and we will put you in touch with him.

Woof, I would hope that since this event is in L.A.,... Home base for a large portion of the Tribe, that there is limited space left availble. Esp with all the great dicounts being offered to our military brothers.I know that if I were within driving distance rather than 3,000miles away I would be there.Can't wait hear all the reports on what we all know will be a great event.....Shame on you if your in the area and don't attend! Oppertunity lost. C-HD

I always thought of the Superbowl as late January, but apparently this year it has decided to conflict with the second day of our Camp. The nerve!

Of course we think our Camp is more important (record the game and watch it when you get home) but if we lose you for Sunday, then the one day price is simply 50% of the full weekend.

I've had some people indicate a desire to catch a flight out on Sunday and therefore they hope for an earlier starting time on Sunday, so instead of starting at 10:00, we can start at 09:00 and finish an hour earlier than previously announced.

Of course we think our Camp is more important (record the game and watch it when you get home)

I've had some people indicate a desire to catch a flight out on Sunday and therefore they hope for an earlier starting time on Sunday, so instead of starting at 10:00, we can start at 09:00 and finish an hour earlier than previously announced.

Woof, With 2 weeks till camp time, I would hope this event is sold out.

Though I would say, If there are still spots open and your able to go and don't, thats a foolish move on your part.

I would also say, regardless as to how good you think your ground game is,EVERYONE would benifit from attending this camp.That is if your really serious about your fight game. Esp. If your simply a orthodox wrestler or Bjj practioner. C-HD

If you have them, please bring boxing gloves as well. If not, not a big deal. There are some there at the gym, but they are , , , gym gloves.

Boxing gloves,mma gloves, sticks, padded sticks.. Is there anything else I should be packing.. since I'm started to get everything together now and see how many bags I need to get on the plane. Will I need my fencing mask?

Fencing mask and rattan sticks not necessary; padded sticks optional. Mouth piece, not absolutely necessary but probably a good idea. Shin guards not necessary, but if you have them you may as well bring them.

Fencing mask and rattan sticks not necessary; padded sticks optional. Mouth piece, not absolutely necessary but probably a good idea. Shin guards not necessary, but if you have them you may as well bring them.

Fencing mask and rattan sticks not necessary; padded sticks optional. Mouth piece, not absolutely necessary but probably a good idea. Shin guards not necessary, but if you have them you may as well bring them.

I just paid for the seminar, and I am very excited about the weekend. I live about an hour inland from Redondo Beach, but if any virtual friends, or folks I only get to see a few times a year are in town and want to get together, let me know!

I should mention that for those so inclined there will be a dinner at local restaurant on Saturday night. Subject to confirmation by the group there on Saturday, the idea is to start a bit earlier on Sunday so as to facilitate the Superbowl for those so inclined.

GC:Thanks for an EXTREMELY great 2 days of training. Everything from the foot work, attack/block and technique that you instructed to Kenny Johnson's Slap, Stuff, Sprawl on takedowns was REALLY valuable. What's also cool is that while there is no doubt that you and Kenny have world-class skill sets it is also cool for me to be under some world-class instruction; there are a lot of skilled people out there who can't teach. I came away with a lot that is going to keep me "busy" for some time for sure. I was very honored to be among such talent.

It was a great camp. My first Dog Brothers training camp and I learned a lot. For those of you that were there and got to play with Kenny Johnson's Indian Clubs, and thought 20lbs were hard. Check this video out. This is ridiculous.

What an enjoyable camp! I really appreciated the integration of the material presented. We all received some high level wrestling/grappling material, and then the chance to see where that fit as a training partner in the Kali Tudo material. It was nice to see some familiar faces, finally meet friends from these boards, and meet new friends. It was a great weekend.